Over a thousand fans gathered at the SC “Morača” swimming pool, not for a celebration but to send off the young Montenegrin water polo players who earned a silver medal at the European Championship with well-deserved applause.

While hopes were high for a victory, Montenegro’s cadets faced a formidable opponent, with Hungary claiming the European title in a commanding fashion (10:8).

From the game’s first attack, it was evident that Nenad Vukanić’s team was up against a significant challenge.

Montenegro managed to equalize only twice (1:1 and 4:4), with a crucial moment occurring in the third quarter when the Hungarians, defending their title as Europe’s top team, scored three consecutive goals to gain a 7:4 advantage.

By the end of the quarter, Luka Savić and Marko Milinić managed to narrow the score to 7:6, but Hungary solidified their hold on the game early in the final quarter with two more goals, extending the lead to 9:6.

“Champions, champions,” echoed through the outdoor pool in Podgorica, and this U15 generation certainly merited such accolades after a tournament run with only one loss in six matches.

The championship began with a win over Hungary, followed by victories against Italy and Spain in the group stage. In the knockout rounds, they showcased their resilience, defeating Turkey in the quarterfinals and Greece in the semifinals.

In contrast, Hungary started the European Championship with three losses before proving themselves as the best.

In the final, our team saw Marko Milinić, Danilo Roganović, and Luka Todorović each netting two goals, while Luka Savić and Andrej Durutović added one apiece.

Marko Pejović from the Montenegrin team earned individual accolades as the championship’s best goalkeeper.

In the bronze medal match, Greece triumphed over Serbia with a score of 14:13 after a tight five-game series.

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